Make right choices, invest in the youth - KAIPTC Commandant urges African leaders

The acting Commandant of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), Air Commodore David Anettey Akrong, has called on African leaders to make the right choice and invest in the youth. 

He said the continent’s future would largely be determined by the wealth of investment made in the young people of today, be it education or skills development.

“Let us be guided by one conviction. Africa’s demographic future will be determined not by numbers, but by choices—our choices. The choice to invest in education and skills.

The choice to empower women and girls. The choice to create inclusive political and economic systems that harness the energy, creativity and aspirations of our youth,” he said.

The Commandant was speaking at a workshop organised by the KAIPTC, in collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO) and the African School of Economics (ASE) in Cotonou, Benin.

It was on the theme: “Unlocking Sub-Saharan Africa's Demographic Future: From Youth Bulges Curse to Demographic Dividends”.

Air Commodore Akrong stated that the African continent was blessed with a high population of young people that needed to be exploited, rather than left to become a source of worry.

“Across the continent, more than 60 per cent of our population is under the age of 25.

This “youth bulge” if left untapped, can deepen unemployment, inequality and instability.

But if properly nurtured, it can become Africa’s greatest comparative advantage—a true demographic dividend,” he stated.

Support

Speaking at the ceremony, the Norwegian Ambassador to Ghana, John Mikal Kivstad, reaffirmed his country's long-standing support for the KAIPTC.

He emphasised Norway's commitment to the centre, highlighting the importance of research-based policies in shaping Africa's future.

“What can be more interesting than looking at the statistics and seeing what youth means to this region, to Africa in general.

Those numbers that researchers look at there can work as a basis for defining policies throughout the continent,” he said.

The ambassador praised the centre's work, particularly its focus on youth demographics, and encouraged policymakers to take note of research findings.

Mr Kivstad also acknowledged the researcher and expressed gratitude for his contributions to policy decisions.

Research

For his part, Prof. Henrik Urdal, a visiting professor at the centre from the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO), emphasised the region's potential for growth, given its declining dependency burden and increasing labour force reserve.

"There is a huge potential for a demographic dividend, a bonus arising from the declining dependency burden and an increasing labour force reserve," he said.

He said the PRIO was working on a collaborative research project focusing on harnessing demographic dividends in sub-Saharan Africa.

The project, supported by the Research Council of Norway, he said, explored how the region could reap benefits from its changing demographics, including economic, social, and political dividends.

Prof. Urdal added that it aimed to identify strategies for realising these dividends while mitigating security risks.

He expressed optimism about the partnership with KAIPTC, highlighting the potential for research, training and capacity-building opportunities.